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05/02/1951 ~ 69 REGULAU MONTHLY MEETING BOARD OF HEALTH HELD IN OFFICE OF BOARD MAY 2, 1951 , Present: Mr. Addison Hewlett, Chairman; Mayor Hoyce S. McClelland; Dr. J. C. Wessell; Dr. J. C. Knox and Mr. H. M. Uoland. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Monthly reports were mailed to the Board members after the meeting. A delegation of plumbers appeared before the Board to discuss the new plumbing code. Mr. Fred Willetts appeared along with the plumbers to discuss the code. He was under the impression that he had been made a member of the Board of Plumb- ing Exiuniners. This fact, however, is not borne out by the minutes or the letter to Mr. Willetts from Dr. A. H. Elliot as of January 29, 1951. Mr. Willetts was appointed to read and survey the new plumbing code with the idea' of safe-guarding the interest of the builders and property owners. His name was suggested to Dr. Elliot by the Real Estate Board. Mr. Willetts had a prepared paper on the new code, but after the discussion con- cerning his appointment he preferred not to read his prepared statement. Mr. Willetts' final suggestion was that the code be absolutely re-written and that he would be willing to go along with a code acceptable to all the plumbers. Mr. Willetts stated that he had not studied carefully the copy of the code that had been sent him. Mr. Hewlett suggested that the plumbers go over the new code and put down in writing those things which they thought should be changed so that we may have something specific to deal with. Mr. Willetts made the suggestion that instead of' every plumber writing his objections to the code, that the plumbers appoint three men to pick the code to pieces, and then go back and state their reasons for the changes being made. Mr. Goodyear made the statement that he thought there had been a lot of misunder- standing about the adoption of the code. Nobody, he said, is objecting to a new plumbing code. He thinks Mr. Willetts' suggestion to let thri:emen put im'riting what they think of the code a good idea and that the Board of Health appoint a committee of three master plumbers and a licensed sanitary engineer to compile a practical plumbing code that is satisfactory to the public interest and safety. Mr. Goodyear stated that no one plumber knows all about plumbing. Mr. W. O. Way made the statement that the real estate people had gone into the plumbing business and did not have a license. He reminded Mr. Willetts that he is a builder and not a licensed plumbing contractor. Dr. Knox reminded the Board members that the duties of the Board of Health are to protect public health. That this is all the Board is interested in so far as plumb- ing goes. In his opinion, some things could stand re-writing in the plumbing code, but is is the health of the public that we are concerned with and nothing else. ...... .... Mr. Allie Moore, Plumber, referred to the typhoid epidemics and stated that the City had no,protection until the Board of Health was organized. Dr. Nesbitt, he stated, went before the City Board of Aldermen and had bonds floated to put in city sewers. He said he did not remember what the death rate from typhoid was at that time, but it was high. The Board of Health condemned all surface privies, '" 70 the situation was relieved and the death rate dropped. He further stated that Mr. Longley, Mr. Dosher and others went to work and spent weeks and months on plumbing ...., rules and regulations; some of which we are still working under. Mr. Moore also stated that it takes time to study a plumbing code and we should not be too hasty _ in adopting one. Mr. Willetts suggested that a practical engineer and the committee go over the changes the plumbers want made, and this should be done before coming back to the Board of Health. Mr. R. H. Kerman stated that he had studied the code and believes he is familiar with the code of New Hanover County and the others in the state. He thinks some things in the code should be changed; for instance, Sections 4 and S. He suggested that the conmittee of three plumbers go over the code with the Board of Plumbing Examiners and then report back to the Board of Health. Mr. Hewlett was in agreement with this idea. The present Board of Plumbing txaminers is composed of Mr. C. C. Davis, Mr. J. D. lopp (both of the Ideal Plumbing Company) and the Health Officer. Objection was ex- pressed by members of the Board of Health to two members of this Board being from the same Company and thought it 'IiOuld be well to try to find a replacement for Mr. Yopp. Dr. Wessell moved that the plumbers arrange for a committee, not to exceed four, to make the recommendations, go over the various changes, present them to the Board of Plumbing Examiners, and then report back to the Board of Health. This motion was seconded by Mr. Roland. Carried. ~ Hr. Willetts asked, "DO I understand that I am 'appointed to this Board during the period of this change only, or am I a member of this P11llllbing Board'7". Dr. Wessell moved that this matter be held in abeyance until the Board members have an opportunity to study it and then notify Mr. Willetts. Motion seconded by Mayor McClelland, Carried. Motion was made by Mayor McClelland, seconded by Dr. Wessell, that the journeymen plumbers be asked to recommend a man to be appointed to the Board of P11llllbing Ex- aminers in the place of the present journeyman plumber member. Carried. - Dr. Davis stated to the Board members that the colored boys in vocational training could possibly be secured to paint a portion or all of the health department interior, and asked if he might use certain unexpended funds to buy the necessary paint. The Board granted this permission. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. APPRfNE/J#___ " It 1951 )r:~/_,. Qg 4/f..-(./' CLERK ~ -